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Romaine Lettuce To Blame For New Jersey E. Coli Outbreak

Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2018 by Kristina Tyler

Romaine Lettuce To Blame For New Jersey E. Coli Outbreak

Health officials have identified romaine lettuce out of Arizona as the culprit in an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 35 people in eleven states, including seven in New Jersey in the last few weeks. The CDC reports 35 people have become ill between March 22nd to March 31st in 11 states - CT (2), Idaho (8), IL (1), MI (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (7), NY (2), OH (2), Pennsylvania (9), Virginia (1) and Washington (1).

"Illnesses reported by investigators in New Jersey also included ill people who had a diagnostic test showing they were infected with E. coli bacteria", the CDC statement reads.

No word on what caused it. If you don't know if the lettuce is romaine, throw it away, according to the advisory.

If you have already purchased products containing chopped romaine lettuce, including bagged salads, salad mixes or prepared salads, throw them away. Twenty-two of the ill individuals have been hospitalized.

A national outbreak of E. coli infections has affected at least 10 other states.

Seventeen people have fallen ill so far and six of them have been hospitalized, according to CNN.

The C.D.C. said that 26 of 28 infected individuals surveyed reported eating a salad at a restaurant, with romaine lettuce being the only common ingredient.

The source of the outbreak can, as of now, only be traced to chopped romaine lettuce from the growing region of Yuma, Arizona.

The Food and Drug Administration is also investigating.

The state is continuing to work with local health partners to identify, interview and obtain lab specimens from New Jersey residents who may have become ill from the contaminated food.

While most strains of the bacteria E. coli are harmless, others can cause serious illness.

However, the CDC has no clue from where the E. Coli bacteria has been contracted by the patient in OH, as no restaurant, food, or grocery store were discovered as possible sources for the E. Coli infection.

Symptoms of an E. coli infection can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, with most people recovering after five to seven days.